22 mayo

Today we start a new series of Dev diaries coming directly from the developers of Neverdark, Simteract studio.

In this first entry they will speak about their vision for the game. It's an introduction to what the game will be about, and it will be followed by future dev diaries going more in detail about specific features. The word to them!

What is Neverdark?

A question we’ve been asked time and time again at conferences, but one we’re excited to answer for you as well! We’re very eager to talk directly with all of you about what our game is, and how it came to be. This will be the first of many dev diaries showcasing both the game and the development of Neverdark as it progresses towards release.

Neverdark, at its core, is a love child between a society management sim and a tactical, turn-based combat game. You, the player, act as the leader of your society after a man-made blackout has destroyed the world’s electrical grid. You’re tasked with the not-so-simple burden of reclaiming cities that have fallen under the control of unfriendly factions and gangs. How you reclaim these cities, however, is a choice only you can make.

Blackout

Post-apocalyptic settings are not new, and we knew that in order to move forward with the idea we needed to differentiate Neverdark from other games in the genre. With an electrical blackout we have the opportunity to focus on our society and the hardships that come with managing groups of scared, desperate people. Old-world technology exists, but is nonfunctional. Remnants of cities stand as hollow reminders of how much mankind was able to achieve. Memories of what used to be “normal” will never fade, but it will not be an easy task to restore even a fraction of those memories.

Neverdark levels – real-world cities’ maps: Tokyo, New York and Paris

Restoration & Rule

A leader can progress and reign with a variety of methods, and we want players to explore these methods to find their unique preference with ruling. Edicts are proclamations that give you the freedom to steer your civilization towards peace and prosperity, or war and militarism.

Each of your decisions carries weight. Your citizens react to the way you treat them, and the sacrifices you make for them… or using them. The happiness, obedience and safety of your citizens is tracked through our Social Parameters system. Let any of those three parameters fall too low and the consequences could be disastrous.

Unfriendly Faces

When the blackout occurred, the innocent and scared fled from the chaos of the cities. The opportunistic and less honourable stayed behind to pillage, murder and destroy without reprimand. As you attempt to wrest control from the gangs and factions that now rule the city, you’ll find yourself having to play their own game in your desire to succeed.

Bribe, pacify, ignore or attack these factions. Pit groups against each other as you gather your own strength, or build up prosperity and pay off each faction to keep the peace. Do whatever is necessary to persevere, whether that means making allies or destroying enemies.

More to Come

This is just the first of many dev diaries from us at Simteract! We have more features and mechanics to show off over the coming months, as well as giving you an inside view of the development process. We look forward to answering any questions you may have about Neverdark, and we’re eager to share more in the next diary!

22 mayo

Today we start a new series of Dev diaries coming directly from the developers of Neverdark, Simteract studio.

In this first entry they will speak about their vision for the game. It's an introduction to what the game will be about, and it will be followed by future dev diaries going more in detail about specific features. The word to them!

What is Neverdark?

A question we’ve been asked time and time again at conferences, but one we’re excited to answer for you as well! We’re very eager to talk directly with all of you about what our game is, and how it came to be. This will be the first of many dev diaries showcasing both the game and the development of Neverdark as it progresses towards release.

Neverdark, at its core, is a love child between a society management sim and a tactical, turn-based combat game. You, the player, act as the leader of your society after a man-made blackout has destroyed the world’s electrical grid. You’re tasked with the not-so-simple burden of reclaiming cities that have fallen under the control of unfriendly factions and gangs. How you reclaim these cities, however, is a choice only you can make.

Blackout

Post-apocalyptic settings are not new, and we knew that in order to move forward with the idea we needed to differentiate Neverdark from other games in the genre. With an electrical blackout we have the opportunity to focus on our society and the hardships that come with managing groups of scared, desperate people. Old-world technology exists, but is nonfunctional. Remnants of cities stand as hollow reminders of how much mankind was able to achieve. Memories of what used to be “normal” will never fade, but it will not be an easy task to restore even a fraction of those memories.

Neverdark levels – real-world cities’ maps: Tokyo, New York and Paris

Restoration & Rule

A leader can progress and reign with a variety of methods, and we want players to explore these methods to find their unique preference with ruling. Edicts are proclamations that give you the freedom to steer your civilization towards peace and prosperity, or war and militarism.

Each of your decisions carries weight. Your citizens react to the way you treat them, and the sacrifices you make for them… or using them. The happiness, obedience and safety of your citizens is tracked through our Social Parameters system. Let any of those three parameters fall too low and the consequences could be disastrous.

Unfriendly Faces

When the blackout occurred, the innocent and scared fled from the chaos of the cities. The opportunistic and less honourable stayed behind to pillage, murder and destroy without reprimand. As you attempt to wrest control from the gangs and factions that now rule the city, you’ll find yourself having to play their own game in your desire to succeed.

Bribe, pacify, ignore or attack these factions. Pit groups against each other as you gather your own strength, or build up prosperity and pay off each faction to keep the peace. Do whatever is necessary to persevere, whether that means making allies or destroying enemies.

More to Come

This is just the first of many dev diaries from us at Simteract! We have more features and mechanics to show off over the coming months, as well as giving you an inside view of the development process. We look forward to answering any questions you may have about Neverdark, and we’re eager to share more in the next diary!

Acerca de este juego

On December 24th, 2030 a global blackout occurred. In an instant the world lost access to electricity, and suddenly so many things that we had taken for granted were gone; the Internet, global communications, electronic devices… all gone.War emerged as governments fell and society collapsed in upon itself. Guns, medicine and food became the new currencies while survival and protection became the sole necessities. Conflicts continued for years as ordinary people battled against famine, disease, the elements, and other humans. A new world rose from the ashes of the old one. Each survivor enclave had a different idea on how to shape their new society: bands of raiders, religious cults, biker gangs, idealistic democratic communes and organisations built around charismatic leaders. Cities were once again battlegrounds, but it was no longer for survival, it was now for domination.

Neverdark is a pausable RTS game which throws you into a post-apocalyptic world. Following a global blackout, society has collapsed, and it will be your goal to rebuild it. You lead a group of survivors, and you will need to contend with other factions over the control of the city. Invest resources and expand your influence to take over the city, street by street. Neverdark is as much about politics and social evolution as it is about combat.

In Neverdark you play in a fallen and ruined city. It is in desperate need of being rebuilt, and it will be your task to adapt it to the harsh conditions with makeshift infrastructure. Each map takes the shape of a real, existing city: Paris, New York and Tokyo. You will find yourself leading your citizens and expanding across familiar streets, taking over existing buildings and repurposing them. Perhaps you might want to use the Louvre Museum as the seat of your Black Market, or it might be a good idea to grow your crops on Rooftop Farms in Brooklyn. Building placement needs to be strategic and thoughtful. Where they’re placed, and the consequences of that choice, rests entirely in your hands.

A new type of society has emerged -- one without a central government. Your goal is to react to dynamic, random events which force you to decide between doing what is ethically right and what is politically advantageous. New laws must be passed, and edicts must be enforced if civilisation is to evolve and adapt to ever-changing conditions.

One way or another you need to deal with other groups competing for control of the city. Both you and your enemies have powerful and influential agents at your disposal. You will need to send those agents, known in-game as specialists, across the city to perform political and military tasks. A Political Agitator in a neighborhood where two factions are fighting for dominance may help sway the locals into supporting you. But should that fail, and you find the enemy has gotten there first, a good long-range 'motivator' with a rifle could be equally effective. Inevitably the streets must turn crimson with bloodshed, and it will be your duty to lead your crew of specialists in tactical, turn-based combat missions.